OMBC aim to bloom as Champion of Champions

Oldham Council (OMBC) are launching their annual Bloom and Grow campaign in a bid to be crowned ‘Champions of Champions’ in the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom UK Finals.

This year OMBC has entered North West in Bloom and has also accepted the nomination to compete in Britain in Bloom, the Champions of Champions category. The nomination is in recognition of their work in recent years. Only six others are competing in the category and they hope to be crowned one of the cleanest, greenest and most beautiful areas in the UK. Oldham’s entries aim to showcase the best the borough has to offer.

The Council have previously won Best City* in the North West six times and are hoping to build on this by winning again this year. The centrepiece will be the ‘WOW’ bed located in the town centre and this will be the main focus for this year’s displays.

The theme for the 2017 campaign is ‘Greening Grey Britain’. It aims to focus on conservation and wildlife and hopes to encourage residents to grow plants, wherever possible, across the borough.

This year, residents and businesses will be encouraged to enter one of five competitions where those with green fingers can show off their skills, gardens, green spaces or open spaces. To enter, just send OMBC pictures of your pride and joy – big or small. Furthermore, businesses can show off their flowering buildings and facades by entering the ‘Best Blooming Business, Pub or Restaurant Competition’.

In the photography competition, photographers can submit pictures of the borough. They don’t need to be a of a high standard and can be taken with any camera, including smartphones.

All competitions are free to enter and aim to showcase the beauty across Oldham beyond. The best entries will win various prizes and the deadline to enter all the competitions is July 7th.

“Bloom and Grow is all about celebrating our communities, green spaces, villages and landscapes across Oldham. Over the next few months Oldham Council’s Bloom and Grow team, residents and partners will be delivering some inspiring displays, community projects and making environmental changes.

“We all need to work together and do our bit for the community – even if that’s just picking up a piece of litter each day or placing a few hanging baskets around your property or business.”